Class spotlight: AP Human Geography

The typical history class progression at Blair covers US history, US government, and world history. Students often learn about the Byzantine Empire and the Boston Tea Party in these classes, but not how that relates to their current lives today. Another class can be used to make that connection, helping students understand the importance of history and government classes. 

In this installment of SCO’s elective spotlight, we’ll take a dive into AP Human Geography, which ties the knowledge learned from traditional history classes to modern issues. Outside of Blair, AP Human Geography is usually a course that freshmen take because it introduces students to the nature of APs with an exam that covers less content compared to other AP history courses. 

Human Geography Room Photo

Photo: Students can visit 243 to become familiar with the contents of AP Human Geography and ask questions about this course.

Students can visit 243 to become familiar with the contents of AP Human Geography and ask questions about this course. Photo courtesy of Thea Womack.

Blair AP Human Geography teacher Morgan Patel decided to teach this class because of her interest in this topic and its importance for students. “It’s where my own passions lie,” she says. “It’s one of the most important classes that a student can take.”  

Patel attributes the importance of AP Human Geography to its ability to apply an understanding of the world from history to current events. “I think a lot of kids get more out of this than a lot of history classes because they’re able to relate what they currently know about the world and relate that to history,” she states. 

In AP Human Geography, students can expect to learn about the world around them. With units about general population, culture, politics, agriculture, and more, students should be able to gain a diverse set of relevant knowledge from this class and apply it to their own lives. “It’s very important to understand where you live, why you live there, and where you came from, and where you’re going, all kind of combined,” she explains. “This class is the perfect way to understand that.” 

Patel tries to make the information easier to digest by dividing the information into units and putting structure behind the lessons taught in the classroom. “I [teach] them how to divide up the information by unit by giving them unit note packets,” she states. “But a lot of it is me kind of breaking it down and putting some structure behind stuff.” 

That’s not all, though. Patel teaches soft skills that will be crucial to the success of students who seek to further their education out of high school. “I teach a lot of skills, like how to take notes, how to study for a test, and that hopefully makes the information a little more accessible,” she says. 

AP Human Geography: Inside of Classroom

Photo: Catch a glimpse inside Mrs. Patel's classroom, where she teaches AP Human Geography.

Catch a glimpse inside Mrs. Patel's classroom, where she teaches AP Human Geography. Photo courtesy of Thea Womack.

Patel aims to cater the curriculum to the different students who take this class, including seniors who want an AP class with a relatively smaller workload and students who may take AP Human Geography as their first AP. “I try to balance the fact that some of them have taken APs [and] some have not,” she says. 

For sophomore Avi Gupta, the class is manageable because of Patel's commitment to helping students. “She’s really passionate about what she teaches, so you really do learn,” he states. 

Because of AP Human Geography, he’s learned tons about the world around him. “I enjoy the class because I get to learn more about the current political situation in the world, which I find really interesting and engaging,” he explains.

Gupta also believes that the information is relevant to his life, especially given the misinformation surrounding current political events. “Especially with the political climate around the world, it’s important for everyone to understand how conflicts like Israel and Palestine began,” he says.

Ultimately, Patel believes that the class will offer something to every student. “I do think it’s valuable enough of a class that any kid can get something out of it, so I encourage as many people to sign up as possible,” she states. 

AP Human Geography is a great course for students who are looking for an introductory AP class or seeking the answer to how history is relevant in today’s world. If you’re interested in learning more about the class, you can email Patel or find one of the many informational posters around the school!